The Three Act Structure (Character Development Page 3)

The legitimacy of the "Three-Act Structure" is a hotly debated subject among screenwriters. Over 100 books have been written in support of it--either analyzing scripts that have already been written or serving as "how to" guides for screenwriting. This structure breaks down scripts into three parts, with one or two important plot points occurring in each act. This breakdown is criticized for being oversimplified, arbitrary, and for not addressing character development. Nonetheless, the Three-Act Structure can be useful in describing the pacing of events in a film and for identifying major turning points in plot and character development. Film critics regularly talk about events of films in terms of their "acts." For a simple, short film like The Lion King(1994), we can easily identify its acts and use them to identify turning points that facilitate Simba's character development.

Act 1: Exposition

The first third of a film introduces the protagonist, his environment, and the antagonistic force. From a psychological standpoint, this is necessary, especially if you're not familiar with the world within the film. Most importantly, getting to know the protagonist and his circumstances allows you to get emotionally invested in the subsequent events. Finally, the end of this act is signaled by the "first turning point," an event that changes the characters path in an irrevocable way and incites a dramatic conflict that will not be fully resolved until the climax. One moment stands out in The Lion King as being the first turning point.

Ironically, Simba sang about wanting to be king earlier in the film. However, when Mufasa dies, the weight of that responsibility becomes very real. Furthermore, Simba is convinced that he caused Mufasa's death. This scene sets up the conflict that Simba must resolve in order to develop fully as a character. He must make the decision to return home and take his place as the king of Pride Rock. In order to do this, Simba must recognize his strength as a leader and let go of his guilt.

Act 2: Rising Action

In the second third of a film, the protagonist attempts to resolve the central conflict, but suffers a setback instead. In order to resolve the conflict in the third act, the protagonist builds the skills necessary to overcome the obstacle. This is the first time in the film where we see the character grow in a significant way. Typically, another character serves as the catalyst for this change. After the protagonist has grown enough and has made the choice to confront his conflict, the events of the third act ensue.

In the second act of The Lion King, Simba adopts a new philosophy: Hakuna Matata. As an audience member, we get behind this "No Worries" philosophy and escape with Simba, Timone, and Pumba as they do their musical number. However, when Nala arrives to tell Simba how Pride Rock has fallen apart under Scar's rule, our bubbles are burst as quickly as Simba's. Although we see Simba develop physically as he struts across the log, it becomes clear that he hasn't truly developed as a character until he runs into Nala (and later Rafiki) and decides to return home. In retrospect, we see that the Hakuna Matata mindset was a setback for Simba's growth. By the end of act two, Simba is ready and open to true change.

Act 3: Climax and Resolution

In the final third of the film, the protagonist confront's the antagonistic force and resolves the central conflict. The dramatic tensions of the film peak in intensity and are then relaxed. This moment, known as the climax, is the "second turning point" of the film. The resolution of the character's internal and external conflicts result in a catharsis (emotional release) for the viewer. Even if a film does not have a "happy ending," the character still overcomes some internal demon or learns something that will change their behavior in the future, for good or bad.

Simba takes the final step in his internal conflict when Scar confesses to killing Mufasa. Letting go of his guilt, he attains a clear sense of who he is and fights to take his rightful place as king. His battle with Scar is the final test of his character. When he wins, he proves to himself that he can handle the responsibility of being king, and that he can live up to his father's accomplishments.